Historical Record in the United States: Why 81 Million Americans and Generation Z are Addicted to Gyms?

In the United States, fitness centers no longer resemble those somewhat empty places at the beginning of January. The parking lots are full all year round, classes are fully booked, and chains are fighting to open new clubs. A new report from the Health and Fitness Association shows that the country has reached a historic milestone.

In 2025, 81 million Americans have a membership to a gym, studio, or fitness club, representing 26.1% of the population, an all-time high after years of post-Covid rebound. Including day passes and guests, 100 million people have stepped into a gym, totaling approximately 7 billion visits. The question remains about who fills these spaces and why they keep coming back.

Record numbers for American gym memberships

The boom did not happen overnight. In 2019, the United States had about 64 million members, then 72.9 million in 2023, 77 million in 2024, and now 81 million. The penetration rate has increased from around 21% before the pandemic to 26.1%. The industry would be worth 45 to 46 billion dollars (around 41 to 42 billion euros), above its pre-crisis level.

To establish these figures, the HFA surveys nearly 18,000 Americans aged 6 and over every year. According to Anton Severin, vice president of research, the observation is clear: “These data make it clear that fitness facilities can no longer be seen as a niche service but as part of the basic infrastructure that Americans rely on to manage their health, stress, and sense of community,” said Anton Severin. “Even in an uncertain economy, people continue to go to the gym because they see real value in what these spaces offer,” he added.

Generation Z and seniors boost gym attendance

The enthusiasm for gym memberships is shared, but some profiles are driving the increase. Adults from Generation Z (18-24 years old) have the highest membership rate: 35.5% of them are club members. Many opt for low-cost but well-equipped chains, what industry insiders refer to as “high value, low price” gyms like Planet Fitness, Crunch, or EoS Fitness.

Another significant increase comes from seniors over 65 years old: this age group has shown the most growth, with an 8.6% increase in memberships in one year. Growth spans all income brackets and both genders. In France, the movement is less massive, even though the number of gyms has increased from 3,924 in 2020 to 5,910 today, representing a growth of about 50% in four years.

Better used memberships and new practices

Members are no longer paying for nothing: the percentage of inactive members has dropped from about 10% to 4.6%. The use of free weights is on the rise, yoga attracts 17.7 million people, and pickleball has climbed to 7.6 million participants.

In summary

– In 2025, the Health and Fitness Association reports 81 million gym members in the United States, representing over a quarter of the population. – Generation Z, seniors, and middle-class individuals are driving record gym attendance in the U.S., fueled by low-cost chains and a variety of practices. – With a decline in ghost memberships and new health expectations, this American boom could foreshadow a profound transformation in the relationship with fitness in France.